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FINALLY! Jimmy Williams announced as the starting....

Phoenix — New Falcons coach Bobby Petrino said that second-year defensive back Jimmy Williams would enter the team's first mini-camp in April as the starting right cornerback. That furthered thought that Atlanta could choose a safety — LSU's LaRon Landry is the most highly regarded — with the No. 8 overall selection in the April 28-29 NFL draft.

At Wednesday's league meetings, Petrino offered more insight into the team, including the fact that Chauncey Davis is the likely replacement at defensive end for Patrick Kerney and his hope to change quarterback Michael Vick from running with the ball as much.

Here's a look at how some players and positions will be affected:

Jimmy Williams

Very little thought was given to moving Williams to safety, Petrino said. Having scouted in college and watching film of Williams in limited action last season, it was determined early that Williams, down to 207 pounds from 215, would play right corner, opposite fellow Virginia Techie, DeAngelo Hall.

"We're excited about him," Petrino said. "He's been working hard. He's got a lot of energy. It will be fun to get to know him and see exactly how he operates at corner. We drafted him as a corner and we need a corner and that's what he's played. He didn't get a lot of opportunities last year. I try to take last year and put it aside and evaluate from this point on."

With the draft a month away, the decision to play Williams at corner could be a sign that the Falcons are targeting Landry or Florida safety Reggie Nelson with the top pick. Incumbent free safety Chris Crocker was solid against the run but a liability in deep coverage and could be replaced.

What becomes of last season's starting right cornerback Jason Webster remains to be seen, however Petrino saying there was a need for a right cornerback could signal his release.

Chauncey Davis

Davis has started 18 games in his first two seasons, so him serving as Kerney's replacement would not be a surprise. Davis is solid against the run but he is still evolving as a pass rusher.

This does not mean the Falcons won't draft a defensive end. There is the chance they could opt for Arkansas Jamaal Anderson with the first pick, or use one of their two second-round picks on a defensive end, with Georgia Charles Johnson being a possibility if he slips that far.

Brian Finneran

Veteran Brian Finneran, who missed all of last season after tearing knee ligaments, is on track to be ready for training camp but there is still some uncertainty about his health, Petrino said.

Petrino thinks this group, with the addition of veteran Joe Horn, has the capability to do well, however, they must prove themselves.

"We're waiting to see," Petrino said of the wide receivers. "They're committed and excited that we're going to spend a lot of time practicing the passing game and going through the progression that I believe in and that's learning the game together; everybody putting all the parts together."

This could still be a position addressed in the draft.

Interesting:

Jimmy Williams is down to 6'2" 207-lbs, he's slimmed down, which should help his fluidity.

Nice. I'm glad that JW will at least get a year starting at CB to prove himself. Also, there are more good FSs in this draft than CBs.

All looks good. If they're happy with Davis as a 1st and 2nd down DE, solid against the run, that could mean we'd be looking for more a situational pass rusher at DE, to line up opposite Abe on 3rd down.

On the other hand, they could just mean that Davis is the starter by default, but they don't really have faith in him as a high quality starter. The draft will say a lot about that.

As for Vick, as much as I love him, 65&#37; is a pipedream. 60%, added to his running ability, would make him an elite QB, so that's fine. Hey, nothing wrong with aiming high.

On the basis of that info, I'd possibly expect us to be looking at Landry first up, rather than Anderson. If they really trust Davis as a run-stuffing starter, we could relegate DE to a 3rd rounder - like Dan Bazuin, perhaps - meaning that we could take:

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I totally understand. Though, back in '04, that was the plan with the Receivers, but a run forced the team to make a play to get Jenkins. I could see something similar happen, with the safeties in this year's class. Now there is talk that Weddle may even sneak into the late-1st, early 2nd range.

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I really wanted the Texans to get Brandon Meriweather in round 2. Now that yall have our pick, yall could definately get him and take Levi Brown in round 1. I do think that Petrino will somehow get Michael Bush on his team at one point or another. Crocker can play SS, and then Meriweather is a true FS. And then you have a pretty young secondary with Williams and Hall.

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With this impending trade for Deltha O'Neal, I am curious what this will mean for Jimmy Williams. Soon after announcing him as the 'starter,' they trade a good 3rd round pick for a corner? My head is spinning.